Developer storing container including an agitation member for agitating developer, developing device including the developer storing container and image forming apparatus including the developer storing container

Abstract

A developer storing container includes a developer storing portion having a developer outlet opening at a substantially longitudinal center portion, and an agitation member rotatable about a rotation axis to thereby agitate and eject the developer via the developer outlet opening. The agitation member includes a mounting portion with a mounting surface along the rotation axis, and an elongated flexible member having first and second ends. The flexible member is mounted to the mounting portion at the first end so that the second end defines a sliding end portion at which the flexible member slides in a sliding direction. Both longitudinal end portions of the sliding end portion of the flexible member slide along the inner surface of the developer storing container, ahead of a substantially longitudinal center portion of the sliding end portion in the sliding direction, and are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.

1. A developer storing container comprising:
 a developer storing portion with an elongated shape for storing a developer, said developer storing portion having a developer outlet opening at a substantially longitudinal center portion of said developer storing portion; and 
 an agitation member that rotates about a rotation axis to agitate said developer in said developer storing portion so as to eject said developer via said developer outlet opening, 
 said agitation member including
 a supporting member that rotates about said rotation axis and that includes longitudinal ends and a center, 
 a mounting portion with a mounting surface along said rotation axis, 
 a plurality of connecting members connecting the supporting member and the mounting portion so as to form a plurality of inner spaces therebetween, a plurality of the inner spaces being formed at the longitudinal ends of the supporting member and one of the inner spaces being formed at the center of the supporting member, 
 each of the inner spaces formed at the longitudinal ends being larger than the one inner space formed at the center of the supporting member, 
 a plurality of the connecting members being disposed at the longitudinal ends of the supporting member and one of the connecting members being disposed at the center of the supporting member, and 
 each of the connecting members disposed at the longitudinal ends having a length that is longer than a length of the one connecting member disposed at the center of the supporting member, 
 a flexible member having an elongated shape and having first and second ends facing each other, said flexible member being mounted to said mounting portion at said first end so that said second end defines a sliding end portion at which said flexible member slides along an inner surface of said developer storing portion in a sliding direction, 
 longitudinal end portions of said sliding end portion sliding along said inner surface of said developer storing portion, ahead of a substantially longitudinal center portion of said sliding end portion in said sliding direction, and being inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to said sliding direction. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The developer storing container according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting surface of said mounting portion has an elongated and arcuate shape, and is shaped so that a distance from said rotation axis to said mounting surface increases from a substantially longitudinal center portion of said mounting portion toward a longitudinal end portion of said mounting portion. 
     
     
       3. The developer storing container according to  claim 1 , wherein a longer side of said mounting surface of said mounting portion, that is longer than another side of said mounting surface, is curved so that a distance from said rotation axis to said longer side increases from a longitudinal end portion of said mounting portion toward a substantially longitudinal center portion of said mounting portion, and
 wherein said flexible member is mounted to said mounting portion in a curved manner. 
 
     
     
       4. The developer storing container according to  claim 3 , wherein a distance from said rotation axis to said second end of said flexible member is substantially the same throughout an entire length of said flexible member. 
     
     
       5. The developer storing container according to  claim 1 , wherein a longer side of said mounting surface of said mounting portion, that is longer than another side of said mounting surface, is curved so that a distance from said rotation axis to said longer side increases from a longitudinal end portion of said mounting portion toward a substantially longitudinal center portion of said mounting portion, and said longer side of said mounting surface of said mounting portion is saw-toothed, and
 wherein said flexible member is divided into a plurality of sections in a longitudinal direction of said flexible member which are provided along said mounting portion. 
 
     
     
       6. The developer storing container according to  claim 5 , wherein said longer side of said mounting surface of said mounting portion which is saw-toothed includes a plurality of saw teeth corresponding to said flexible member divided into a plurality of sections. 
     
     
       7. The developer storing container according to  claim 6 , wherein said saw teeth of said mounting portion are inclined toward the substantially longitudinal center portion of said mounting portion, and are symmetrical with respect to said substantially longitudinal center portion of said mounting portion. 
     
     
       8. A developing device comprising said developer storing container according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. The developing device according to  claim 8 , wherein said developer storing container is detachably mounted to a main body of said developing device. 
     
     
       10. An image forming apparatus comprising said developing device according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
       11. An image forming apparatus comprising said developer storing container according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. The developer storing container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the lengths of the connecting members disposed at the longitudinal ends of the supporting member and the one connecting member are measured along a direction perpendicular to a surface of the supporting member that the connecting members disposed at the longitudinal ends of the supporting member and the one connecting member touch. 
     
     
       13. The developer storing container according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the inner spaces that are formed at the longitudinal ends of the supporting member have a length, measured along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the supporting member, that is longer than a length, measured along the direction perpendicular to the surface of the supporting member, of the one inner space formed at the center of the supporting member.